Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · 2d

"Harlequin ladybirds are swarming UK houses this week - Like many insects, ladybirds enter a state of inactivity over winter known as diapause – an insect version of hibernation.
Different species like to overwinter in different environments - harlequins in our homes and seven-spots in leaf litter."

Why so many ladybirds are swarming UK houses

With social media reports of harlequin ladybirds invading UK homes this week, Elizabeth Rizzini explains why the weather means some ladybirds are on the move.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 18

#PlantMoreTrees

Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · Aug 17

Planting trees in neighborhoods have a host of health and social benefits. They even reduce crime! www.motherjones.com/environment/...

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Kirsten de Vos 🚶🏻‍♀️💚🚲🍃 @kirstendevos.bsky.social · Aug 12

Yet another reason why we need to protect bees 🐝💕
@beefriendlybrum.bsky.social

www.newsweek.com/bee-venom-co...

Bee venom could help treat a type of cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., with the exception of skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.

www.newsweek.com

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 10

@thebeeguy.bsky.social any ideas?

Rob Hemming @robhemming25.bsky.social · Aug 9

What appears to be 3 'layers' of honeycomb, attached to the top of the yew hedge outside of our apartment. In the open

Can't say I've ever seen this before. Does anyone have any info on this occurring? And which species it might have been made from

#bees
#ukbees
#@ecorecord.bsky.social

Honeycomb attached to yew branches in the open

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

The Bee Guy @thebeeguy.bsky.social · Aug 10

Bumblebees #sleeping on/in #flowers at this time of year!
What the feck is that all about?
Lots of people asking us so here’s a quick (long)🙄 thread explaining what’s going on.

Please #repost/#share so more are more informed.
Thanks good people.
#bees
#nature
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 6

Clophill Lakes Boardwalk Appeal

Shocking acts of arson have left the Clophill Lakes boardwalk in ruins, impacting both visitors and wildlife. If you can, please help raise £100,000 to restore access for all to this treasured reserve.

www.greensandtrust.org/appeal/cloph...

Clophill Lakes Boardwalk Appeal

Join the Greensand Trust in rebuilding Clophill Lakes' boardwalk destroyed by arson. Help restore access and preserve this cherished wildlife haven.

www.greensandtrust.org

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 7

By changing our diets to be more plant-rich now, we can avoid the food chaos that climate change is bringing

theconversation.com/by-changing-...

By changing our diets now, we can avoid the food chaos that climate change is bringing

By choosing to transform how we grow food and what we eat – rather than letting climate change dictate the pace of change – we have so much to gain.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · Aug 7

Gosling abandoned by its parents as an egg finds a family with 3 cranes.

"We've been taught lately to fear the stranger, to basically become isolated + cut ourselves off from anything that is unknown. And here you have this blended family who have no questions to ask. They've accepted each other" 🥹

These Sandhill Cranes Have Adopted a Canada Gosling, and Birders Have Flocked to Watch the Strange Family

Ornithologists and locals wonder what the future holds for this chick being raised by much taller, but still doting parents

www.smithsonianmag.com

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 6

Clophill Lakes Boardwalk Appeal

Shocking acts of arson have left the Clophill Lakes boardwalk in ruins, impacting both visitors and wildlife. If you can, please help raise £100,000 to restore access for all to this treasured reserve.

www.greensandtrust.org/appeal/cloph...

Clophill Lakes Boardwalk Appeal

Join the Greensand Trust in rebuilding Clophill Lakes' boardwalk destroyed by arson. Help restore access and preserve this cherished wildlife haven.

www.greensandtrust.org

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 6

This story 🧵 has a sad ending but maybe we can help to make it better 💚

Martin Robbins @mjrobbins.com · Aug 6

This spring, a new nature reserve opened around the corner from us: Clophill Lakes. A sanctuary for otters, wildfowl and wetland creatures, it's a stunning location enjoyed by families from across the region. www.greensandtrust.org/clophill-lak...

Clophill Lakes

A new nature reserve Clophill Lakes is now OPEN daily from 9am to 5pm (cafe open 10am-3pm).

www.greensandtrust.org

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Kirsten de Vos 🚶🏻‍♀️💚🚲🍃 @kirstendevos.bsky.social · Aug 4

You’ll love this @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social 🐝💚

birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/bbg-event/po...

Cirque du Pollinate: A Family Summer Garden Party!

Join us for a buzzing celebration with a joyful family adventure exploring the magic of pollination through circus, creativity, and interactive performance.

birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 4

Ooooh looks great, thank you 💚🐝

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Aug 4

🐝💚🌻 we 💚 these people, blooming beautiful 🌻💚🐝

terraced house in Balsall Heath Birmingham with about 10 tall sunflowers in its front yard

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

WWF UK @wwf.org.uk · Jul 31

NEW climate record: over half of UK electricity was generated by renewables in 2024! 🙌

This good news means we're a step closer to a Net Zero future, where:

✅ We produce our own energy
✅ Energy bills are cheaper
✅ Our air is cleaner
✅ People & nature thrive

www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...

Renewables generate half of UK’s electricity in 2024 in new record high

Official figures show wind, solar, hydro and biomass generated 50.4% of UK power last year.

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Lightacandle @lightacandle.bsky.social · Jul 31

This real useful. 'Recipe for a bee-friendly growing space.' @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Recipe for a bee-friendly growing space

growwild.kew.org

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 31

One of our sunflowers came out with missing petals but it's still beautiful and bees & other pollinators still love it.

photo of a sunflower plant with a bee visiting the flower which has a gap in its petals at the 11 o'clock area

close-up of sunflower with missing petals

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 23

Ladybird defenders

2 seven spot ladybirds on a sunflower head which is still green and furled up with many spiky leaves.
The ladybirds are keeping the sunflowers free of aphids.

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 23

Brummie bees

Two bumblebees on the outer edge of a sunflower in an urban front garden

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · Jul 11

Hello world!

RSPB Conservation Science has officially landed on BlueSky

Follow us to hear about our science discoveries, new publications, citizen science, and all things conservation research

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 23

Aphid Spring, Ladybird Summer

www.bbc.com/news/article...

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Center for Countering Digital Hate @counterhate.com · Jul 23

🌪️ X, Meta & YouTube are allowing a storm of false and misleading claims about extreme weather events flood their platforms.

The online spread of lies about extreme weather events can disrupt emergency efforts and put lives at risk.

Our new research in @desmog.com ⤵️

Extreme Weather Events are the New Frontline of Online Climate Denial – Report

Climate science deniers are flooding social media with false claims during extreme weather events, drowning out reliable information and putting lives at risk. A new report by the Center for Counterin...

www.desmog.com

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 23

These sunflowers are being kept aphid-free by a dedicated team of 7 spot ladybirds

photo of 2x 7 spot ladybirds tucked up in the still green furled up head of a sunflower waiting to bloom

photo of a 7 spot ladybird on a sunflower leaf

photo of 3x 7 spot ladybirds on sunflower leaves

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Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 20

Bramble alert!
First round of Birmingham brambles are berry much ready good to go
sweet and juicy
get to the hedges when you have a chance
sunny Spring + wet start to summer = loads of these wild blackberries where they've been left alone to do their thing. So tasty, grown from the earth by the sun.

photo of brambles growing over a fence covered with climbing rose and honeysuckle

close-up of the berries of the brambles, some of which are black and juicy, others red getting ready and green still to get going

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Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 20

Bramble alert!
First round of Birmingham brambles are berry much ready good to go
sweet and juicy
get to the hedges when you have a chance
sunny Spring + wet start to summer = loads of these wild blackberries where they've been left alone to do their thing. So tasty, grown from the earth by the sun.

1 2 4

Reposted by Bee Friendly Brum

Bee Friendly Brum @beefriendlybrum.bsky.social · Jul 16

bee happy @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social 🐝💚

photo of two bumblebees on a sunflower in my front yard in the morning sun

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